Mr. Fonti is a real estate professional with over 30 years in real-estate property management, development, and community engagement, which makes him a perfect addition to the Renaissance Downtowns USA team.
Robert started his real-estate company, Vincent James Management Company, in 1992 with 4 properties and built it to a portfolio of over 87 properties exceeding 6 million square feet of mixed-use properties. Mr. Fonti is known in real-estate circles as an expert in the management of foreclosure properties and has lectured around the country on topics of housing and creating healthy communities “one block at a time”. His life’s experience in managing government and private sector opportunities is the cornerstone to his success and that of the community and governmental stakeholders. Mr. Fonti has been a Commissioner-Chairman of the Huntington Housing Authority since 2000 and has been credited with bringing together both community and governmental leaders to build attainable and dignified housing for those in need. This housing development was the 1st mixed-use private -public partnership created in the State of NY.
He is a founding member and current co-chair of a leading smart growth organization called Vision Long Island (VLI). VLI has recently celebrated 20 years of smart growth balancing the healthy land use and development of communities allowing community and government to “mold the clay” together while listening and planning for the future.
Mr. Fonti is the founder and a co-chair of both the Long Island Business Council and Suffolk County Alliance of Chambers. Mr. Fonti serves on LIPA’s community advisory board and works with many local and regional not for profit groups and stays engaged with community stakeholders.